Tiger High hails from the epicenter of rock-n-roll, the place responsible for everything from Sun & Stax Records to Big Star, the city of Memphis, Tenn.Its first two records, released on cassette jointly by Burger Records and Trashy Creatures Records, were well received by college and underground radio. In 2015 both albums will be released by Burger Records, for the first time, on vinyl in a beautiful double-album gatefold package.

This year the band unveils a new, sonically ambitious vinyl LP, “Inside the Acid Coven.” It’s the band’s third full length and is out now on Volar Records/Trashy Creatures Records. The cassette edition is a co-release by Burger Records and Trashy Creatures Records.

The band, which Mojophenia described as “haunting yet graceful psych-pop,” formed in August 2010 and includes: songwriter Jake Vest (vocals/guitar), Toby Vest (organ/vocals/production), Greg Roberson (drums), and bassist Leo Ramos.

“Unlike ‘Catacombs After Party,’ the new record, ‘Inside the Acid Coven,’ was a complete concept that was conceived and recorded all at one time,” Jake Vest said. “It’s also the first record of ours where Toby truly used his studio, High/Low Recording, as one of his many instruments, crafting and shaping the sound ... we were extremely meticulous with tones and atmospheres.”

With a home turf like Memphis, Tiger High has a long list of hometown heroes. The endless stream of soul, R&B, gospel, and garage rock all inform the band’s creative aesthetic. From underground legends like Jack Yarber and Greg Cartwright of The Oblivians, to rock‘n’roll legends like Jim Dickinson and Alex Chilton, the band’s roots are firmly planted in Tennessee. Their sound also echoes fellow Memphians Sid Selvidge, The Lost Sounds, and guitarist Lee Baker, to only name a few.

Roberson, a Memphis music-scene veteran, has worked with many of those Memphis fixtures over the years. He was Reigning Sound’s original drummer, appearing on the band’s first four studio albums. He also spent time behind the kit playing for The Compulsive Gamblers, Lover, and Jack Oblivian. In 2006 Roberson’s band The Knaughty Knights, with Rich Reatard and Jack Oblivian, recorded an EP for Shattered Records, the late Jay Reatard’s imprint. Roberson also assembled the last version of Love for ‘60s psychedelic icon Arthur Lee.Though, Roberson’s focus today is fully on Tiger High. The Memphis Rock City blog praised the band’s energy and compared it to Roberson’s past work: "the chemistry (of Tiger High) . . . is just as strong, if not stronger than the early days of the Reigning Sound.”

It’s true, Tiger High started with a bang. Its 2012 debut album “Myth Is This” charted on the CMJ Top 200 and received positive reviews from a number of publications. Paste Magazine said it “sounded like Phil Spector manning the faders for a crackling indie band.”In November 2012 Tiger High released its sophomore LP, “Catacombs After Party.” The disc, which Mojophenia hailed as “a soaring beast of a follow-up,” peaked at #51 on the CMJ Top 200 charts, and peaked at #20 on the Dusted charts. Paste Magazine said its “goosed by sheets of fuzzy clang … and wiggles with Bolan-meets-Iggy attitude.”

The band’s stage show has also been melting faces in Memphis and beyond, with both headlining sets and opening sets for heavy hitters like Death, Thee Oh Sees, Mikal Cronin, White Fence, and Metz. Rock journalist Nick Peterson of Apes on Tape described one of the band’s San Francisco gigs as “charged-up, riveting garage rock.” He also applauded the band member’s harmonious skill set, “Front man Jake Vest delivered very impassioned vocals while blistering through some lightning quick, technical guitar work,” Peterson wrote. “While most garage acts bring the volume and heightened presence of sound, Tiger High complemented this with nuanced musicianship and intricate breakdowns and bridges.”

Meanwhile, The Nashville Scene hailed the band’s live performance as “a loud set of psychedelic soul-garage that was dipped in just the right amount of Costello-y organ.” My Old Kentucky raved, “By the end of their 30-minute power set, the parking lot swooned with label reps and media folks wanting to know what the hell just happened.”

According to Jake, Tiger High’s work ethic is much like the early days of Big Star, just a group of friends burning the midnight oil in the studio. “The sound of Tiger High,” he explained, “is the sound of record nerds making late night rock tunes in their clubhouse.”

The band will be releasing their fourth LP in September 2018. Their first two LP's will be released for the first time on vinyl in 2019 as a double LP.

RADIO AIRPLAY:

Tiger High's sophomore album"Catacombs After Party" peaked at #51 on the CMJ Top 200 charts in January 2013, and peaked at #20 on the Dusted charts in November 2013.

Tiger High's debut album"Myth Is This" peaked at #67 on the CMJ Top 200 charts in May 2012

Tiger High'sthird album"Inside The Acid Coven" peaked at#106 on the CMJ Top 200 charts in 2014.

“Don’t Want to See You Till You Go is tough and hard hitting, but won’t make you want to crack any skulls, you’ll be too busy dancing the whole time."

Get BentApril 2012

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Indeed, if all you know of Tiger High is their reverb-doused debut album Myth Is This—which sounds like Phil Spector manning the faders for a crackling indie band—this Memphis four-piece is much toothier onstage. “Myth Is This was recorded before we ever played live,” Roberson says. “Live, we’re really…brutal.”

Accordingly, Tiger High’s sophomore album Catacombs After Party is a lot nastier than its predecessor… begins with “So Long” which is goosed by sheets of fuzzy clang. “Coral Castles” wiggles with Bolan-meets-Iggy attitude, while “Lightspeed” traverses languid verses and an LSD-vibration chorus before collapsing into tremolo-feedback crescendo.

Paste MagazineIssue #61 September 21st 2012

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"Haunting yet graceful Psych-Pop . . . `Catacombs After Party` is a soaring beast of a follow-up to April`s debut album release `Myth Is This`. "

MojopheniaNovember 2012

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“Opening for Metz in a fairly late Monday night spot, Tiger High brought their charged-up, riveting garage rock to San Francisco delivering a set that at least this attendee did not expect . . Like most garage acts, even a well-recorded album never really does justice to the tuneage. Which is a great thing for someone originally experiencing Tiger High in the live setting. Front man Jake Vest delivered very impassioned vocals while blistering through some lightning quick, technical guitar work. While most garage acts bring the volume and heightened presence of sound, Tiger High complemented this with nuanced musicianship and intricate breakdowns/bridges. Tiger High self-describes themselves as “a tight knit group of musicians” which I found very accurate considering how well Vest’s three band mates backed and supported him. . . I’ll stop there, but I’d give Catacombs After Party a listen below, but try and catch them live if you can to get the full deal.

“The group has such a high school cheerleader energy-meets-behind-the-school stoner psych-rock sound that only a name like "Tiger High" would suit their flare. And their second release, Catacombs After Party, sees these sophomore miscreants adjusting their appearance by putting on a tougher, garage-ier, and reverb-doused-ier exterior as they rock down those indie halls. With songs covered in sheets of fuzzy clang and LSD-vibrations, Catacombs After Party is a rock album that'll have your head banging with those darn kids in no time."”

"Tiger High deliver a style of music that lands somewhere between the two R’s: Ramones and Replacements. If this rock punk isn’t a good enough reason to track these songs down, this is also being released through Burger Records on cassette for a mere six dollars. That’s how I will be buying it and I suggest you do the same."

*** “. . . Tiger High slaughtered a loud set of psychedelic soul-garage that was dipped in just the right amount of Costello-y organ. Seriously, Tiger High dudes, come back through town any time you like.”

*** “Their first single “Don’t Want to See You Till You Go” is catchy, lo-fi that reminds me of another great Memphis rocker, Jay Reatard. Not surprising considering drummer Greg Roberson worked with Rich Reatard in the Knaughty Knights who released one EP on Jay’s Shattered Record label and he also spent some time collaborating with sixties psychedelic icon Arthur Lee. Still, while similarities and connections abound, Tiger High is doing their own thing and doing it pretty well from the sound of things. I look forward to much more from them.”Write Click Cook ListenApril 2012

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"Tiger High aren’t playing to whims of musical trends or the universally appealing, the heavy-weighted fuzzy feedback is almost to the point of essential these days – This, my friends, is pure radio-friendly Garage-Pop, an explosive musical feast with all the blitzed-out precision of Rock and Roll troubadours."

MojopheniaNovember 2012

*** “Losing Out” is a revved up, lo-fi rocker, the kind you’d hear in a bigger budget indie film as cars careen against a dark and otherwise empty road. With an overwrought guitar lead that’s equal parts noise and clean pickin’, it’s a stand out track all around.

Indie MusicAugust 2012

*** Memphis’ Tiger High is damn good, clearly inspired by the aesthetics of ’60s garage and psychedelia without being mere regurgitators. This year’s Myth Is This is an urgent record, packed with richly textured instrumentation that recalls everything from Booker T and the MGs and The Sonics to Elvis Costello and Spector’s girl groups. I mean, it shouldn’t really come as any surprise that these guys are the real deal, considering the fact that their lineup features former members of such important Memphis-bred acts as Greg Cartwright’s Reigning Sound and Compulsive Gamblers. Also, it should be noted that Tiger High plays at the correct volume setting: Loud as Hell.

The Nashville Scene’s The Spin July 2012

*** "The Tennessee psych-rock outfit, Tiger High, has got some impressive depth, especially with the help of captivating vocalist, Jake Vest."

What's ProtocolMay 7, 2012

*** " . . . “Don’t Want to See You Till You Go”, From start to finish every note and every little move that the band makes is done with a swagger and played loud and loose, crashing together like an electric calliope. And if you’ll pardon the pun, every breath you take will not matter, because Tiger High just might knock the wind out of you. Hidden behind the bombastic, fuzzed-out waves of guitar and organ mutilation is a catchy, hook-laden piece of garage rock that is as equally reminiscent as it is forward thinking. It’s the kind of song that makes it hard not to get at least a little bit excited about it.

Striker BillMay 4th 2012

*** “Don’t Want to See You ‘Till You Go” bears the best faux Ramones song title I’ve heard in a long while. It’s the sort of song Phil Spector would have loved to produce in his prime.

Indie MusicAugust 2012

*** ". . . this record is currently one of my leading contenders for favorite record of 2012."

Memphis Rock City Blog April 21, 2012

*** About Tiger High’s “Don’t Wanna See you Till You Go” . . . this garage-y song would probably be good in an extreme-sports-themed Disney Channel Original movie. the fame from said movie would catapult this band into a somewhat famous but mostly overlooked Warner Bros. film. and eventually on into a very happie montage from How I Met Your Mother. get it while it’s still cool.

UnclefarkusApril 2012

***"“Don’t Want to See You Till You Go,” is a psychedelic gem with thrashing guitars and unshakeable percussion."

What's ProtocolMay 7th 2012

***". . . the chemistry (of Tiger High) . . . is just as strong, if not stronger than the early days of the Reigning Sound.

Memphis Rock City Blog April 21, 2012

***"Tiger High is a band out of Memphis. They make garage pop that is completely and totally made for dancing, shaking your head and spazzing out like you are alone in your bedroom."

Noise Verse NoiseApril 2012

*** ". . . capturing your ears with their upbeat guitar and tempo accompanied by corky and well-timed synthesizing, Tiger High is making their way into the psychedelic rock scene"

West Hem Roll skate/music blog April 2012

*** “Opening number “Why Oh Why,” offers up the slow grind of tortured heartbreak against a chorus of epic proportions.”

Indie MusicAugust 2012

*** "“Why Oh Why” has fabulous 50′s-esque harmonies with just enough reverb to really open the song up. As an incredibly catchy opener for their debut album, Myth Is This, you’re introduced to a blend of fuzz-rock that hits many different decades of influence."

What's ProtocolMay 7th 2012

*** "This band pulls influences from all over the place. The opening track, “Why Oh Why” sounds like what would happen if a 60′s psychedelic band wrote a 50′s drive in theater make out anthem. “Boys At The Bottom” is easily a drinking anthem for the 2010s. The first single from this record, “Carry My Love,” is the sort of song that you could see laser light shows being arranged to in the future. "

Memphis Rock City Blog April 21, 2012

*** “. . . engaging and infectious punk/guitar rock . . . “

Nick Collins The LA RecordMarch 22, 2012

*** ". . . the single 'Don't Want To See You Til You Go' is hard to listen to just once. It's like a roller coaster that you want to get right back on after riding."

Those Who DigNy-based Blog April 2012

*** “Tiger High is a shining example of a successful, DIY indie unit.”

Jeremy Roberts Examiner.com April 10, 2012

*** “The band's debut long-player, "Myth is This," is drenched ― drenched I tell you ― in glorious, hazy reverb. It's Memphis rock 'n' roll, for sure. Check the garage-y swagger of "Fire," and vintage cheap-o organ tones and irresistible chorus on "Riding the Wave" and "Hot Black Honda." But influences do creep in from outside The Bluff City. Check "Always Mine," which swings the heartache like Spiritualized at their most forlorn, or "Losing Out," which fuses shimmering guitars and a relentless beat with classic r'n'r strum, like Neu! jamming with Buddy Holly. "Boys at the Bottom" pulls off a sock-hop-rock-with-howling-overloaded-guitar-bleeding-all-over-it vibe. “

*** “Tiger High took the stage and instantly blew us away. By the end of their 30 minute power set, the parking lot swooned with label reps and media folks wanting to know what the hell just happened . . . Tiger High gets our pick as the best band at the festival.”

My Old Kentucky Blog’s Soundland Festival Recap October 3, 2011

*** “Whoo boy, Tiger High! . . . Their straight rock ‘n’ roll set was over all too soon. New favorite band material, right here.”

Memphis’ Tiger High is damn good, clearly inspired by the aesthetics of ’60s garage and psychedelia without being mere regurgitators. This year’s Myth Is This is an urgent record, packed with richly textured instrumentation that recalls everything from Booker T and the MGs and The Sonics to Elvis Costello and Spector’s girl groups. I mean, it shouldn’t really come as any surprise that these guys are the real deal, considering the fact that their lineup features former members of such important Memphis-bred acts as Greg Cartwright’s Reigning Sound and Compulsive Gamblers. Also, it should be noted that Tiger High plays at the correct volume setting: Loud as Hell.

The Nashville Scene’s The Spin July 2012

Tiger High - Be The Indian

The first video from Tiger High's second full length album "Catacombs After Party"